Third MotoGP practice at Phillip Island to be extended
MotoGP organisers have extended Saturday morning’s third practice session at Phillip Island after Friday’s running was compromised by poor weather.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The first session of the weekend went ahead as normal, albeit on a very wet track, but conditions worsened in the afternoon, meaning only 15 minutes of second practice were completed before the red flags were shown. The session was ultimately cancelled after a further delay.
To make up for the lack of running, race organisers have decided to extend Saturday's third practice session from 45 minutes to an hour, to be held an hour earlier than planned - at 0955 local time.
FP4 will go ahead as normal at 1430, with first qualifying following at 1510.
Moto2 third practice will also be extended from 45 minutes to an hour, as Friday’s second session - which was set to follow second MotoGP practice - was cancelled entirely.
Revised Saturday schedule (all classes):
Moto3: 0900-0940 Free Practice 3
MotoGP: 0955-1055 Free Practice 3
Moto2: 1110-1210 Free Practice 3
Moto3: 1335-1415 Qualifying Practice
MotoGP: 1430-1500 Free Practice 4
MotoGP: 1510-1525 Qualifying Practice 1
MotoGP: 1535-1550 Qualifying Practice 2
Moto2: 1605-1650 Qualifying Practice
Redding says FP2 conditions “too dangerous”
Pramac Ducati rider Scott Redding backed race direction’s decision to cancel second practice, describing the conditions as “too dangerous” to ride in.
“Today was a waste, almost,” recalled the British rider. “The morning was not too bad, but it was on the limit, some standing water.
“We made some laps, but when the weather is like this you have a lot more to lose than to gain. In the afternoon I went out to test the circuit, but it was too dangerous.”
Redding’s teammate Danilo Petrucci added: “In the afternoon I was one of the few riders that joined the track, but there was too much water.
“The situation was very risky, there was a lot of aquaplaning around the main straight and the straight between Turns 2 and 3. Fortunately after a few minutes they showed a red flag.”
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